250mm lens

[luis a de santos]

What lens would provide the largest coverage for 8x10 on the 250mm range?
This is a range I would be Ok with 240mm to 260mm or so. Old or new design lens it does not matter.

Thanks Luis

[Brian Stein]

Of the current lenses the apo-sironar-S 240 covers 370mm. The 240 G-claron is reported to only cover 300mm but as this is known to be conservative (the 210 covers 8x10 and the 305 7x17) Id be interested in the opinion of someone who uses one. Of older lenses I know folks use the kodak 205 WF ektar and the 240 computar for 7x17 so these should be about top of the list in coverage.

[Eric Woodbury]

Here's a list for 810 lens coverage and then a list that includes older lenses. This is a great little website.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF8x10in.html

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenseslist.html

[Eric Leppanen]

The single-coated Fuji 250 WS 6.3 has 80 degrees of coverage (398mm IC). See Lynn Jones' post in this thread:

http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00Epfd

[Gem Singer]

My lens of choice in that focal length is the Nikkor f5.6 240W. Great semi-wide lens for 8X10.

I also have a Fujinon f6.3 250 CM-W. However, it just barely covers 8X10, with limited movements. I use it on my 5X7 Canham.

There is an older version Fujinon f6.7 250W that sometimes shows up on eBay. It has a much larger image circle than the f6.3, and is highly sought after by 8X10 shooters.

[Drew Wiley]

I use both a 250 G-Claron and a 240 Fujinon A on 8x10. The coverage is about the
same - plenty for basic landscape use, but only about two inches of rise - rather limited for architecture, etc. These would therefore hardly be contenders for the most coverage in this focal length, but SO lightweight and crisp! (The Fuji has a tad
more contrast than the G-Claron.)

[Drew Wiley]

Postcript- I just remembered that I also once had the 250/6.7 Fuji W. Got stolen. The practical coverage is about the same as the 240A. Nice lens, but the 240A is even sharper. Can't go wrong with either.

[clay harmon]

I have used both the 240/9 Zeiss Dagor and the 240 Goerz-Dagor on 8x10, and the coverage and sharpness are just fine.

[Rodney Polden]

As other members have noted, the Fuji-W 250mm was produced in two versions: the coated (but not EBC) f6.7 lens was first, with 80 degrees and coverage of 398mm.

The later versions, and current EBC version, are f6.3, and have a considerably smaller coverage of around 320mm, suitable for use on 8x10 without much movement.

The f6.7 was sometimes labelled Fuji-WS (for shutter-mounted, I believe). Though single-coated it is a very sharp lens, and with all that extra coverage is consequently sought-after by 8x10 users. You may have to wait a while for a good one to show up on the auction site (I guess those that have one are hanging on to them), but they sometimes go for final bids well below their true value. That tends to be true of a number of the lenses in the Fuji line, since the quality of both their design and manufacture has only recently gained recognition.

Lynn Jones's post, that is linked to above, is unfortunately in error in not distinguishing between the f6.7 and the f6.3 - I'm fairly sure this was just a typo on her part, since in other threads Lynn has extolled the virtues of the f6.7, and commented on how much the lens was favoured by commercial photographers for its wide coverage and sharpness.

The confusion between the two versions has been repeated so many times in various threads, that the error will no doubt live on into future discussions as well, I guess. Hey ho!:)

[Scott Davis]

Another lens that covers in that focal length, although rarer than hens' teeth, is the Docter Optic 240 f9 Apo-Germinar. Not a huge circle, but it does cover, and is a truly sweet lens for travel because it is so compact and light.

[Allen in Montreal]

As other members have noted, the Fuji-W 250mm was produced in two versions: the coated (but not EBC) f6.7 lens was first, with 80 degrees and coverage of 398mm........

You may have to wait a while for a good one to show up on the auction site (I guess those that have one are hanging on to them), but they sometimes go for final bids well below their true value........

......Lynn has extolled the virtues of the f6.7, and commented on how much the lens was favoured by commercial photographers for its wide coverage and sharpness.........



Luis,

I spent a rather long time searching and finally found a Fuji 250 6.7 ws here on LF.
The prices on Evil-Bay were all over the ball park.

I have only used the lens for a few sheets of B+W on 8x10 so far, but it is razor sharp and I am very happy with it. It is small and light when compared to Nikkor 240 (using a #3 shutter compared to a #1 shutter on the Fuji 250ws) and tiny when sitting next to my Nikkor 300 W!!

I had considered buying a Computar 270 and only having the 270 and a 480 apo Nikkor, the seller, who was also here on LF, advised against the Computar for use on the smaller 8x10 format (he was shooting ULF) and in retrospect, I think he gave good advice, I am happy with the 250 WS performance and size weight ratio, if you are carrying your gear outside of the studio setting.

[John Kasaian]

You might consider a 10" 250mm Kodak Wide Field. It offers huge coverage and even if it is an official "Cult Lens" they can often be found reasonably priced (but not "cheap") I love the look these lenses give---Ansel must have been on to something here! ;)

[Michael Jones]

Another 250mm lens to consider is the 250 Fuji Soft Focus. Not only does it cover admirably at its factory engraved apertures, if you take the time to mark the full closure of the iris, when stopped down to f64 (or f90 depending upon the shutter’s vintage), the usable image circle is 500mm. Many, including me, use this on 7x17 cameras. The other bonus is it is a 8x10 soft focus lens when used wide open (and/or with the diffusion disks). Food for thought…

Mike

[Martin Aislabie]

Have you considered the Schneider 210/5,6 Super Symmar XL

Its a little shorter tha you want but the image circle is huge (500mm)

Martin

[Arne Croell]

Another lens that covers in that focal length, although rarer than hens' teeth, is the Docter Optic 240 f9 Apo-Germinar. Not a huge circle, but it does cover, and is a truly sweet lens for travel because it is so compact and light.
The 240 Apo-Germinar, Scott? Don't you mean the Germinar W 240mm? The latter one certainly covers 8x10 with room for movements, same as the G-Claron, but multicoated.

[David Vickery]

As far as old and cheap lenses go, I recently discovered that my old Bausch-Lomb Kodak anastigmat f6.3 no.6 (about10") covers 11x14 with some room for movement, though with softer corners the further you move it. For 8x10 it would cover quite well and is relatively small. Mine is uncoated of course, so I need to build a lens hood for it.

[John Powers]

You might consider a 10" 250mm Kodak Wide Field. It offers huge coverage and even if it is an official "Cult Lens" they can often be found reasonably priced (but not "cheap") I love the look these lenses give---Ansel must have been on to something here! ;)


I use the 250mm Kodak Wide Field Ektar on 7x17. It gives full coverage but only a small amount of movement. For 8x10 it should offer huge coverage as John Kasaian says.

John